The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-18

NJ
aff Wa shall bs divided by our little partial local
insdNrosts our proicos will be confounded, and we
on selves shall become rcproacn, anu sS;5 ~ 49,
from this unfortunate instance. DESPAIR of
ablishing governments by human wisdom and leave
IT Eco chance. war, and conquest
.Tn the face OF AT discouragements. the fathers
OF the Republic labored on for four long weary
fnonths in alternate hope and fear but always
with rugged resolve, never faltering in a sturdy
Sendsavor sanctised~by prophetic sense OF the
VALUE 20 posterify OF their success, and always
with unfinchinf faitn IN the principles wnlen
make the foundation Of government by the
people. At last their task was done. 1t Is re-
lated that upon the back of the chair occupied
by Wasninetop as the president of the conven-
tion n sun was painted. and thatas the delegates
were signing the complete Constitution. one of
them said: i have often and often, in the course
OF the session, and in the solicitude of my hopes
aud fears as TO its issue, looked at that sun be-
hind the President without being able to tell
&hsRer T@~Eas rising or setting. But now at
length t M i ,. is ,d rising and n t6s
sros where this rising emerged from politi-
~ night and darkness, and in its own bright
ssa~sainn light we mark it's glorious way. Clouds
hs.a sometimes obscured its rays and dreadful
ssorus have made as fear; but God has held IL in
~ eourse, and through it's life giving warmth
-. nevfnrrned His latest miracle in the creation
70 ,lis vpndrouF land and people. AS look
covvn tho past century to the origin Of our Goa
stitntiou as we contemplate its trials and its
nrinciuhs upon which il is based have
Set g-AssS NATIONAL peril and every
confess with Franklin, God governs
= che affairs or men, and how solemn should be
-. reaection that TO hands is committed
Ms ark of the peoples covenant, and that ours
,ba dutv to shield IL from impious hands. We
arsixe IL sealed with the tests of a century.
mas been found sufficient in the past and in
n the future years it will be found sufficient if
he American people are true to their DUTY.
Nnother centennial day will come, and millions
sow UNBORN will inquire concerning sacred
hin and the safety of their Constitution. God
IL kNxnr~~ E~r1
H. rnioice in the patriotism and devotion of
kosT who lived hundred years ago, may
trrk$swhef follow us rejoice in orr fidelity and
our jealous love for constitutional liberty"
When the President was in the middle of his
s-narks, the soft sound of the bell in the cupola
the State house. which occupies the place Of
onor on the structure wherein reposes that
rscszed and time stained mass of netal-the
Aperty Bell-rang out the hour of twelve, and
I each stroke a rousing cheer went up from the
norns. The President was obliged to stop talk
az for few seconds It was just 1905 whom
he President uttered his last word, and he at
,ncs retired to his seat Before the echo OF his
Togds died away there was cheering which
IeaSening- While the applause still going
a the chorus broke into patriotic air, and the
lin was terrific As far as the eye could reach
here was one solid, seethinR surging OF
humanity. and when their throars opened in
anison they filed the air and made an inspiring
Gene When quiet once more reigned, Supreme
Justice Samuel f. Miller of the United States
% the front OF the stand and facing the assem-
Aled dienitaEles began the delivery Of his memo
nal GRAFTON.
He began by sketchne the war OF the revolu-
lion, and the events that led to the framing.
adoption and PRONUNCIATION of the Constitution.
He then said:
This Constitution has been tested by the ex-
perience of century of its operation, and in
the light of this experience it may be we'll
cosas10er its value. Mary of it's most important
features met with earnest and vigorous opposi-
w in he
Lon which presented it, and the conventions of
tnq States called to ratify it. In both, the
Struggle In its favor arduous and doubtful,
tnq opposition able and active For very per-
spiruous and condensed statement of those OBJ
Jeetions. showing the diversity of their charac-
der. the Importance of some and the insignif-
eMsce OF others, refer my hearers to Section
w cf the Commentaries OF Mr.. Justice Story on
I'M Consultation Perhaps the wisdom of this
kat 1nstS1ment cannot ha better seen tAan by
@erS7Mderirg at this time some of the most
important objections then made One of
seIegrztss IN the constitutional convention, aud
thear refaesk TO sign 1t, was Inc want
ct q weu-defned bill of rights The
roy al charters of many Of the colonies and
constitutions adopted by several States after the
rasols had such declarations, mainly assertions
pSf personal rights and of propositions intended
to give security 60 the individual his right of
person and property against the exercise of
authority by governing bodies of the State. The
Constitution was not void of such protection. It
provided for the great writ OF habeas corpus. the
means by which all unlawful imprisonments and
restraints upon personal liberty had been re-
moved in the English and American courts since
Magma Charta was proclaimed and it declared
Thar the privilege of that writ should not be
perded unless, in cases of rebellion or invasion,
this public safety should require il. The Con-
stit1tlon also declared that post facto law
or bill of attainder should be passed by Con-
gress; and no law impairing the obligation of
contracts by any State. 1t secured the trial ~
:ury of all crimes within the State wher ~
offe1se was committed. It defined treason = 'ns
TO require some overt ACE. which must be py-5
by two witnesses, or confessed In open court for
conviction. AoA
1T can hardly be said that experieD,.. -.
demonstrated the sufhciency Of these g. 80
purpose which the advocates of bill of riohts
had in view, because upon the recomu, ardation
OF s2Eral of the States made In the act az ratifv
Ing The Constitution, or by Legislatures AZ their
frstmeetne subsequently, twelve aamendments
were proposed by Congress, ten 6f which we're
Immediately ratified by the requlsite nnmbsr OF
Gtatee, and became part Of tie Constitntion
within two or three years OF - It's = adoption.
amendments, the advocates Sc snecifc hill of
rightE and those who were dif satisfied W. ~ Tire
strong power conferred on tne federal govern
ment, united; and many sfTaatesmen who leanea
TO a strong government for the Nation vvara
willing, now that he governments was estab-
lshed to win to as favor those who distrusted il
~ -ns asaoop1Sh of these amendments. Hence
ssHy sHEns examination Of them shows that all
- sneni are restrictions upon the power of the
bSSssraH government, or upon the modes of exer-
gc1sing that power. or declarations of the powers
They establish certain private rights or persons
and property which the general government may
not violate. As regard these last. 1t is not be-
lieved that any acts Of intentional oppression by
the governm ent Of the United States have called
Tor serious apprehension; but, on the contrary,
history points us TO no government in which the
freedom or the citizen and the rights or prop
erty have been better protected and life and lib
erty more firmly secured
AS soon as IL became apparent TO the c0nyen-
ton that the new government must be a nation
resting Tor its support upon the people over whom
u exercised authority, and not league of in
dependent States brought together under COM
pact on which each State should place its own
construction. the question of the relative power
Oh those States in the government became
a subject OF serious difference. There were
those In the convention who insisted that in the
ieeisiatlve body, whore the most important
powers must necessarily reside the States
should as in the articles of confederation, stand
upon perfect equality, each State having but
cHe vGte and this feature finally retained
IN That part OF The Constitution which vested in
congress the election of the President when
En